Adopt

Are you ready to have a new family member? Your new cat will love you for a lifetime!

Cat Beach Sanctuary does not believe — as policy — in the sale of animals. Adopt, don’t shop!

Come to the Sanctuary and let a cat choose you. There are so many friendly cats just waiting to meet ‘their person!’ You can make all the difference in their life — with a good, loving home!

ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS

To adopt a Cat Beach cat, the Sanctuary requires:

A Signed Form — a simple agreement promising that you will give good care of your cat.

Carry Case or Cage — to take a cat home (no cat should ever roam free in a car.

Vet Appointment — for health assessment and vaccination.

Optional but suggested for transport: cat collar and leash.

CONDITIONS

All pet owners need to understand that cats coming from a multi-cat environment may carry diseases, even if they have no symptoms. Cat Beach cats are rescued from truly desperate situations and may have illnesses or injuries that may require veterinary care in the future.

Please understand that while our all-volunteer staff is doing the very best we can to provide a good life for the cats, cats are known for disguising illness and injuries. While we do not normally allow a cat with known issues to be adopted. we cannot guarantee that an adoptable cat will be in perfect health. That is why it is important that at the time of adoption, a professional licensed veterinarian should assess the cat for health issues and give a vaccination (if not already done).

What should I expect?

Cat Care expenses at the Sanctuary average about RM 2 per day for each cat (times 365 days in the year = RM 730). This includes food and estimated costs for cleaning supplies. This is a rough estimate of your future cat care costs for a year — plus you should expect some additional costs for vet visits and for the fun things as you will want to get your cat toys and other treats.

Plan also for the not-so-fun like minor damage to furniture (yes, cats have claws and some like to knock things on to the floor, some even like to remove the keys from the computer keyboard). Be prepared for the possibility of messes, especially in the early days when the cat is learning its new environment.

Never punish a cat for making a mistake — they just become stressed and upset which can lead to illness. Instead, teach it what you expect. For example, for scratching issues, give it a scratching post or cardboard and demonstrate how to use it. Put the cat into a litter pan if it pees or poops in the wrong place – most cats will learn quickly. Clean the litter pans often, at least once a day. Watch the cat carefully if it does make a ‘mistake’ outside its litter pan; there is the possibility that it may have a urinary or intestinal problem that needs veterinary attention.

Please give some thought to boarding costs or having a responsible person care for your cat when you need to be away from home. Think too about how lonely a cat can become if no one is home all day. We do recommend that ‘two cats are better than one’ even if they are not best friends at the start. Normally cats like to socialize with their own kind, unless they get lots of attention from their ‘person.’

Other things you should consider:

Where will my cat live in my home? Designate 4 separate places for sleeping, eating, playing, and toilet areas. Keep toilets as far away as possible from food. Listen to and watch your cat — you and your cat may need to negotiate if the cat doesn’t like your choices (yes, cats are intelligent!).

Will my cat be able to go outdoors? If so, how will you be sure it is safe and can return to your home at night? What are the potential safety hazards in your home and neighborhood? (Examples: motorbikes, cars, dogs, other cats, predator animals, neighbors that put poisonous things on their lawns and gardens, etc.)

How will my cat relate to humans? Some cats are shy, others bold. As you get to know the temperament and preferences of your cat, you can also teach and learn from them. If you have any behavioral problems, please contact Cat Beach or go online to the many cat advice sites.

Here’s a checklist of items you will want to make you and your cat feel comfortable in its new home:

Please feel free to download the Your New Cat pdf which is shared from Google Drive and updated from time-to-time. If you have difficulties with access, please contact us at catlovers.my@gmail.com and we will email the handout to you directly.

We can also recommend the publications by the animal food manufacturer, Royal Canin, especially their Kitten Guide at http://www.royalcanin.com.au/kitten-cat/kittens/kitten-guide.

Many other resources are available on the internet. We often refer to www.petmd.com and other sites.